Kenyan prisoners play chess for fun behind bars and to help with rehabilitation

MURANG'A, Kenya -- The black-and-white stripes of Brian Gatonye’s prison uniform match the pieces staring back at him from the chessboard at Kenya's Maranjau Prison.The 27-year-old has served about 18 months of a three-year sentence for assault and is due to be released in November 2027.During a break in the prison yard, he considers his next move: a pawn, perhaps, or a knight. The break isn't long, but if he finishes the game quickly he may have time to face one of the skilled guards.But it is unwise to rush or act impulsively — in chess as in life, he has learned.“Chess has taught me a lot,” Gatonye said. “It has taught me (about) being calm, choosing my decisions wisely. Before doing an act, I have to think first of what the repercussions are — and then I move.”Gatonye is among a growing number of Kenyan prisoners who have taken up chess in recent years. The game has become part of rehabilitation programs in the country’s prisons, where officials and participants say it encourages patience, problem-solving and interaction between prisoners and guards.At Maranjau, which holds about 450 prisoners according to Superintendent Humphrey Young, some choose chess over resting or playing...